Kathleen and I got to go to not one but two company picnics recently. Despite the blazing temperatures, both were outdoors and were a lot of fun.
Among other things, we learned that:
- unlike in the US, people dress up for picnics, often wearing extremely fancy saris and lots of jewelry
- games are a major part of the event and include such show-stoppers as 'cock fighting' and 'pass the pillow'
- picnics seem to be a good time to parade your foreign staff around and have them entertain you
Kathleen and I did not dress in our finest and felt a little underdressed, but no one seemed to really mind.
The 'cock fighting' game involves grown men hopping on one leg with their arms crossed trying to knock the other men over. Quite silly and a little dangerous when performed on a concrete floor but there were no injuries luckily.
'Pass the pillow' was for the spouses of employees and is like our 'hot potato' game - whoever is left holding the pillow when the music stops is out of the game.
At the first company picnic in Khulna, Kathleen and I were major stars and were called on to give speeches and give out prizes.
At the staff picnic in Khulna
Giving out prizes in Khulna
Superstar Kathleen with lots of adoring fans
The very serious game of cock fighting
Pass the pillow
At our second company picnic, outside of Dhaka, Kathleen and I got to be even more involved. We not only participated in the foreigners-only fashion show (wearing our South Asian best), but Kathleen also got to perform a duet of a traditional Bangladeshi dance. It was such a hit that they were asked to perform it a second time!
